I agree with Rapunzellover.
First, it is branded differently. It is
Adventures by Disney, which is different from DCL, or DVC, or the Parks/resorts. Yes, it says Disney, but everyone still knows a Hampton is owned by Hilton. Same thing.
Also, to be clear, even within these different product lines - there are varying levels of service/products. Compare All Star Music hotel to the Grand Floridian. Not the same, yet both Disney. Or on your much lauded DCL - the rooms are very, very different - yet, all Disney.
And obviously ABD isn't hurting the Disney brand. If it was, they would not be expanding trips, they would be cutting them back or ditching the program.
What I think that your wife is missing is that Disney isn't trying to make these products identical because it can't (as other have stated so nicely). They just can't control everything around the world like they can at the resorts/parks or on their cruise ships and private island. (Although, they do a pretty good job of it, their name opens a lot of doors.)
However, what they are trying to do in the higher end group family travel space is be in a similar spot to where they are in the theme park market or the cruise market, for their highest paying customers (those who stay at the Grand Floridian or in the nicest rooms on DCL), not those who cruise or park at the "value" level.
And ABD is definitely not a Coke when you wanted a martini in that travel market. To say so is to show that you don't understand the market they are in.
Now food - yes, it could be better. No one will disagree with those comments.
The other thing going on appears to be the use of the word "adventure" - with some taking it to mean active, outdoorsy, athletic travel (aka Backroads). I think that the word here means a different thing - like this definition (from Merriam - Websters) "an exciting or remarkable experience."
I can understand that people may get confused by this initially. But not if they do any research here.
And Backroads prices are similar, particularly when you see that their trips are shorter (although, they do have the ability to have your trip at lower end hotels/restaurants, so that can change up the price).